11th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs of 11th January 2017

International Current Affairs

India has announced a $100 million (₹683 crore) line of credit to Kenya for agricultural mechanisation after talks between PM Narendra Modi and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
- Further, India is focussing on quick operationalisation of defence cooperation between the two nations, Modi added.
The outgoing US President, Barack Obama, today delivered his farewell speech where he said America is a better and stronger place than it was when he started.
- Obama said Americans made him a better person and a better President.
- "It has been an honour to serve you. I won't stop, I'll be there with you, as a citizen," added Obama.
Muslim-majority nation Morocco has banned the production and sale of burqas for security reasons.
The Museo Atlántico, which is known to be the first underwater museum in Europe, was inaugurated off the coast of Lanzarote, Spain.
- The exhibit features 12 installations and over 300 life-size human figures.
- Designed by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, the art installation aims to promote environmental awareness and social change.

National Current Affairs

India has turned down United Arab Emirates' request to display its para-dropping skills at the Rajpath as part of the Republic Day parade, citing security reasons.
- However, the government has offered to accommodate UAE's marching contingent in the parade.
- Note : Crown Prince of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day.
The Centre is going to institute an independent railway regulator that will determine passenger and freight tariffs.
- The Rail Development Authority, which the Union Cabinet is yet to clear, will recommend tariff changes by taking into account direct and indirect costs.
- Note : Train tariffs are heavily subsidised, with 27% of rail revenue coming from passenger tickets.

Awards & Honors

Filmmaker Karan Johar has been invited to the upcoming 47th World Economic Forum's annual meeting as a cultural leader.
- The global event will take place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from January 17 to 20.
- This year's Theme of the event : 'Responsive and Responsible Leadership'.
Turkey today renamed the street that serves the Russian Embassy after Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey who was killed by a gunman in the Turkish capital.

Science & Technology

Pentagon had successfully tested a swarm of 103 Perdix micro-drones, one of the largest micro-drone swarms ever tested at a single instance.
- The micro-drone swarm, which was tested in California in October, included micro-drones measuring around six inches.
- The drones were launched from three F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets.

Business & Economic Affairs

Citibank has launched voice verification for its phone banking clients to replace the current authentication process of remembering PINs or answering verification questions.
- The bank said identifying a user's unique voiceprint will take 15 seconds, down from an average 45 seconds it takes currently.
- The authentication will be completed automatically while the customers speak to the bank official.
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio beat telcos Airtel, Vodafone and others, to become the fastest 4G service provider in India in December 2016, according to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

Deaths

Former German President Roman Herzog (82) passed away.
- Herzog had served as the chief justice of Germany's highest court before being elected to a five-year term as president in 1994.
- He is best remembered for urging "a jolt" of political and social reform in Germany.
Clare Hollingworth (105), the veteran British war correspondent who first broke the news that World War II had started died today in Hong Kong.
- Hollingworth, who was born in Leicester, England, covered major historic events including conflicts in India and Pakistan.

Sports Current Affairs

Indian cueist Pankaj Advani has won the 3rd Kolkata Open National Invitation Snooker Championship today.
- Note : This was Advani's maiden title win at the Kolkata Open.
The United Kingdom has become the world's first country to officially recognise parkour as a sport.
- Parkour, also known as freerunning, is similar to military obstacle training and involves a participant getting from one point to another, tackling terrain using only his/her natural body strength.
- The sport has been considered controversial since it uses minimal protection gear.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova today announced that she is set to make her return to competitive tennis on April 26 at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
- Note : She is currently serving a 15-month doping suspension.

This is the end of today's Daily Current Affairs session friends. Good Day :)